Areas further outside of Aberfeldy (particularly to the north and west) give way to the extensive Grampian Mountains, with scenic peaks such as Creag Odhar, Farragon (780m), Schiehallion (1083m), Ben Lawers (1214m) and Sron Mhor punctuating the landscape.
He is remembered for his calculation of the density of the earth from Nevil Maskelyne's observations on Schiehallion.
It remains a popular tourist resort today and is particularly known as a centre for hillwalking, surrounded by mountains such as Ben Vrackie and Schiehallion.
Schiehallion was the setting for the final showdown in Grant Morrison's comic series Zenith.
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He was assisted in the task by mathematician Charles Hutton, who devised a graphical system to represent large volumes of surveyed heights, later known as contour lines.